Mariners left ruing missed chances after cracking start

SOUTH SHIELDS BUXTON TOWN 1 1

SOUTH Shields were left eight points adrift of Evo-stik NPL Premier Division leaders Warrington Town after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Buxton, writes MARK CARRUTHERS.

The Mariners made a fastpaced start to the game and took the lead with just 12 minutes on the clock.

Nathan Lowe found some space on the edge of the Bucks area and got a shot away, but that was deflected into the path of Lee Mason.

The former North Shields forward wasted no time in lashing a low drive across goal and into the far corner of the net.

The lead lasted just eight minutes as Nick Degirolamo rose highest to head home a Brad Grayson corner kick at the far post.

The visitors could and should have gone ahead on 26 minutes when former Darlington striker Liam Hardy fired narrowly wide with the goal at his mercy.

However, the half was all about the Mariners from that point on as home debutant Connor Bell, Robert Briggs and Luke Daly all went close to restoring their side’s lead.

The hosts’ dominance continued after half time and only the width of a post prevented Bell from introducing himself to the Mariners Park faithful in fine style.

Nathan Lowe’s whipped cross found its way to the striker and his powerful effort smashed off the near post before being cleared by the visitors’ defence.

The pressure continued, chances came and went, frustration and desperation increased.

Lowe had a shot blocked, Josh Gillies hooked an instinctive effort against the bar and Briggs fired wide from distance.

Jon Shaw brought a fine save out of Buxton’s young keeper Theo Roberts with 10 minutes remaining, but the on-loan Chester stopper saved the best until last to earn his side a point.

Roberts produced two stunning saves to keeper out a powerful header from Mariners substitute Ben Harmison and then bettered that stop by tipping a thunderous effort from Briggs over his crossbar.

Buxton escaped with a point, but their hosts couldn’t have done much more to earn all three.

SOUTH SHIELDS: Connell, Baxter, Adams, Shaw, Morse, Turnbull, Daly (Harmison), Briggs, Mason (Foley), Lowe, Bell (Gillies) Subs: Lough, Mouanda BUXTON: Roberts, Roscoe, Degirolamo, Dean, Meade, Sephton, Chippendale, Young, Grayson (Dean), Oyibo, Hardy (Degirolamo) Subs: Dean, Kilner, Bruce, Freeland